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Autopsy reveals Ultimate Warrior died of heart disease

Josh Barnett, USA Today Sports
10:30 p.m. EDT April 14, 2014

IMAGE DISTRIBUTED FOR WWE - The Ultimate Warrior speaks during the WWE Hall of Fame Induction at the Smoothie King Center in New Orleans on Saturday, April 5, 2014. (Jonathan Bachman/AP Images for WWE) ORG XMIT: CPANY505(Photo: Jonathan Bachman AP Images for WWE)

The Ultimate Warrior, one of wrestling's biggest stars of the late 1980s and early 1990s, died of heart disease, according to the Maricopa County (Ariz.) medical examiner's office.

Days after his induction into the World Wrestling Entertainment Hall of Fame and a reconciliation with WWE, Warrior collapsed outside a Scottsdale, Ariz., hotel last Tuesday while walking with his wife Dana. Warrior had made his first appearance on "Monday Night Raw" since 1996 the night before his death.

An autopsy was performed Thursday with the cause and manner of death released Monday.

According to Maricopa County, Warrior, 54, died of "atherosclerotic/arteriosclerotic cardiovascular disease" and of natural causes. The medical examiner's office will continue its investigation into Warrior's death, in consultation with his family and doctors, although a full autopsy report likely won't be completed for several months.

Born James Hellwig, he had legally changed his name to Warrior. He is survived by his wife and two daughters.